Correction of treason.
The women that were giuen to the Spaniardes at their firste entraunce, had vnderstandyng of a snare that was layde to murder them at their commyng to Chololla, by meanes of one of the foure Captaynes, who had a sister which discouered the thing to Pedro de Aluarado who kepte hir. Cortes incontinent called that Captayne out of his house, and caused him to be choked, and so was the matter kepte close that his death was neuer knowen, whereby the snare was vndone without any rumour. It was a wonder that all Tlaxcallan had not made an vprore seyng one of their greatest Captaynes dead. There was inquirie made of that snare, and the truth being knowen, it was approued that Mutezuma had prepared .30000. Souldiers who were in campe for that purpose within twoo leagues of the Citie, and that the streates in Chololla were stopped vp with timber and rayles, and the toppes of their houses prouided with stones, which houses are made with playne rooffes or sotties, and the highe way stopped vp, & other false bywayes made with déepe holes pitched ful of stakes very sharpe, to spoyle and lame both horse and man: these engines were finely couered with sande, and coulde not be espied, although the skoute had gone before on foote to discouer. The matter also was very suspitious, for these Citizens of Chololla had not at any time come to visite hym, or sente any presente vnto him as others had done.
Wherevpon Cortez consulted with the Tlaxcaltecas to sende certayne messengers to Chololla, to request their Captaynes and rulers to come vnto him, who did their message accordingly, and the Cholollans woulde not come, but yet they sent thrée or foure persons to excuse them, saying that they were not well at ease, praying to signifie vnto them what he woulde haue: the Tlaxcaltecas enformed Cortes that those messengers were menne of small credite and of lowe degrée, wishyng hym not to departe till theyr Captayne came. In this sorte Cortes returned theyr messengers backe agayne, with commaundement written, declaring that if they came not within thrée dayes, hée woulde proclayme them rebelles and his vtter enimies, and as suche would he chasten with all rigour.
When this commaundement came vnto them, the next day followyng came many Lordes and Captaynes to make their excuse, saying, that the Tlaxcaltecas were their enimies, and that through them they could not liue in safetie, lykewise they knewe of the euill reporte whiche they had made agaynst them: wherefore they besought him to giue no credite vnto them, for why, they were both false and cruell menne: beséechyng him also to goe with them to their Citie, and then he should sée that all was but a mockery that had bene tolde him, and they his good and faythfull friends: and laste of all they offered to serue him as tributary subiectes.
Cortes commaunded that all this talke should be sette downe in wryting before the Notary and his interpreters, and so tooke his leaue of the Citizens of Tlaxcallan. Maxixca wepte at his departure, but there wente in his company a hundreth thousande men of warre: there were among them many Marchantes that wente to barter for Salte and Mantels.
Cortes commaunded that those hundreth thousande men should go alwayes by thēselues: that day he reached not to Chololla, but abode by a broke side, and thither came many of the citie, to desire him that the Tlaxcaltecas should not doe any hurte in their countrey: wherevpon Cortes cōmaunded them to returne backe againe all sauing .5000. or there aboute, much against their willes. But they stil required him to take good héede of those euill folke, who be not (quoth they) men of warre, but pedlers, and men of double harte: and they of their partes would be very loth to leaue him in any peril or daunger, hauing giuen themselues to be his true and faithfull friendes.
The nexte day in the morning the Spaniardes came to Chololla, and there came out néere .10000. Indians to receyue him with their Captaynes in good order: many of them presented vnto him bread, foule, & roses, and euery Captayne as he approched welcomed Cortes, and then stoode aside that the reste in order mighte come vnto him. And when he came entring into the Citie, all the other Citizēs receyued him, marueling to sée such men & horses.
After all this came out all the religious menne, as Priests, and Ministers to the idols (who were many and straunge to beholde,) and all were clothed in white lyke vnto surplices and hemmed with Cotten thréede: some brought instrumentes of musicke like vnto Cornettes, other brought instrumēts made of bones, other an instrumēt like a ketel couered with skin, some brought chafing dishes of coales with perfumes, others brought idols couered, and finally they al came singing in their language, which was a terrible noyse, and drew néere Cortes and his cōpany, sensing them with swéete smelles in their sensers.
With this pompe and solemnitie (whiche truely was great) they brought him into the Cittie, and lodged him in a house where was roume inough for him and his, and gaue vnto eche of them a Gynnea cocke, and his Indians of Tlaxcallan, Zempoallan and Iztacmixtlitan, were prouided by themselues.